After laughing heartily, Antion leapt into the sea.
The event was sudden, and no one present had time to react.
He climbed up the long mast, the sea breeze striking him from behind, his lean body curling up as though plastered against the sail, and then he dived headlong, plunging with a splash into the sea.
Dertulian suddenly looked back, seeing Antion swimming away from the ship, laughing heartily as he went—the tragic spectacle of his kind devouring each other had finally shattered all the priest's rationality.
Dertulian's lips trembled, and he wanted to order a turn to haul Antion back aboard, but at that moment the sea breeze was too fierce. The ship pushed farther and farther away, and in the blink of an eye, they had been distanced.
At last, Antion slowly disappeared from everyone's sight.
Watching this unfold, with the salty sea wind beating against his face, Dertulian bowed his head, murmuring helplessly:
"Lord, save us from this misery..."